PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9661, 27 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press A?sic'atioir. WELLINGTON, November 26. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, on the motion of the Hon. W. E. Collins (Wellington), a Select Committee was appointed to enquire inti the matter of the registration of "births and deaths, and to report to the Council on tne same. T Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House this afternoon, r on the motion by Mr J. T. Hogan (Wanga—nui) that the report of the Railways committee on a petition for a com—passionate allowance by an Auckland railway man,who had been injured itt the execution of his duties, be laid on the table, Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central) moved that the report be referred back to the committee for reconsideration.

Messrs F. E. Baume (Auckland East), 11. Poland fOhinemuri), C. H. Poole (Auckland West), and J. Bollard (Eden) supported the amendment, and Mr D. Buick (Palmerston)

opposed it. Mr 1J McLaren (Wellington East) said that there was need for an independent tribunal to deal with individual cases of this kind. He had experience of cases where injured mem had been willing to accept small lump sums as compensation for injuries while they were entitled to much larger amounts. The Hon. J. A. Millar declared that if these claims for compassionate allowances over and above compensation were to continue he would aßk the House to strikeout the clause providing for payment in a lump sum. Petitioner had been treated very well, and received what he would have been entitled to had he been in private employment. If the department was to be turned into a charitable institution then the sooner the country knew it the better. Mr Hogan said that while he had every sympathy for the petitioner the committee ha 1 to bs guided by the law in the matter. Petitioner had two options offered to him to accept £3OO the full amount of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, or to accept a weekl; payment of 17s under the superi annuation scheme. He chose the for mer, but having done so ha 1 no fur ther legal claim. The case showed ns ctssity for the setting up of a con passionate allowance committ • which he hoped would be now e.~ tablished.

Mr T. £. Taylor (Chr stchur.*h North) said that it was rermrkable how cheap life was held. The Government thought nothing of spending £IO,OOO on a road to the Governor's residence, but could not grant more than £3OO to a maimed worker. This showed that our standards of life were false and artificial. He pointed out that the an extra claim in the fact that he had been injured while performing an act of bravery. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr T. M. Wilford (Huttt asked what steps the Minister intended to take in regard to the strike of four hundred men at the State Coal Mine at Point Elizabeth, and if the Government would take the House into its confidence as regards the steps to be taken to bring about harmonv.

On the suggestion of the Premier, Mr Wilford gave notice to asfc the question at the next sitting day as the Minister of Mines was not in possession or documents relating to the position of affairs.

Th'i Shops and Offices and Factories. Amendment Bil's were read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee.

In the evening the Premier moved to recommit the State Guaranteed Advances Bill for the purpose of rei considering Clause 72. The motion fci recommit the Bill was carried by 31 to 26.

In clause 72 Sir J. G. Ward moved that all the words a r 'er "A'-t* be omitted, thus deleting Mr Sidey'at previous; amendment. After a great deal of di icussicn the Premier's motion was los": by 27 t:> 25. The Premier move! the seconJ reading- of the Land Stttlement Finance Bill, outlining ihe provisi ns of the measure which, he said, render large areas of land in both islands available for cutting up into freehold farms for individual occupa'ion on as easy terms as it was possible to grant The Bill contained the nee stsary safeguards fjr protecting the, interests of the memb2rs of put-. chasing associations, and also of vendors of land. Owing to tin publicity provided for there w#s little-possibility of excessive pyiyQS bei'ig given for the land bmgktMinr der this measure. Sir Joseph Ward was still speak.ing at midnight.